Rail-joint.



F. L. STROUSE.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.ZG,1912v Patented June 25, 1912.

FRANK L. STROUSIEQOF WILLIAMSPOBT, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial No. 679,994.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. STROUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilliamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rail joint, the constituent rail elements of which may be interlocked by relative rotatory movement, the rails being provided with inter-engaging elements, certain of which limit the relative longitudinal movement of the rails, other of which elements limit the relative rotatory movement of the rails.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of part-s and in. the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspectiveof one end of the primary rail; Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective of that end of the secondary rail which interlooks with the end of the primary rail shown in Fig. 1, the view serving to illustrate the opposite end of the primary rail from that end which is shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the invention in top plan;-

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the secondary rail; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the primary rail; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the primary rail.

In the drawings there is shown a primary rail 1, provided in its ball 2 with a transverse recess 3, there being a head 4 overhanging the recess 3. A lug 5 is located in the recess 3 and connects the head 4 with the body portion of the ball of the rail. The ball 2 of the rail is provided with a lip 6, disposed opposite to the recess 3, the bead 4, a portion 7 of the web 8 of the rail, and a portion 9 of the flange 10 of the rail projecting beyond the lip 6, to define a shoulder 11 in the web 8.

The invention further includes a secondary rail, denoted generally by the numeral 12, the secondary rail being provided in its ball 14 with a transverse recess 15,

adapted to receive the bead 4 of the primary rail 1. Below the recess 15, the rail is equipped with a flange 16 having intermediate its ends a notch 17, dividing the flange into a pair of fingers 18, the fingers 18 being adapted to fit within the lip 6 of the primary rail 1, and to engage with the lug 5. The ball 14 of the secondary rail is provided with a shoulder 19 in its outer face, arranged to-engage the upper face 20 of the lip 6 of the primary rail 1. The web 21 and the flange 22 of the secondary rail are set back from the end 23 of the ball 14 of the secondary rail, and the web 21 and the flange 22 of the secondary rail are shouldered, as shown at 24, to engage with the shoulder 11 of the primary rail 1.

In practical operation, the bead 4 of the primary rail 1 is inserted transversely into the recess 15 of the secondary rail, and relative, transverse rotatory movement is imparted to the rails, until the lug 5 of the primary rail registers between the fingers 18 of the secondary rail. The engagement of the lug 5 between the fingers 18 serves to limit the relative longitudinal movement between the rails 1 and 12. However, the notch 17 is somewhat wider than the lug 5, so that the rails may expand and contract. The relative rotatory movement between the rails 1 and 12 is prevented by reason of the fact that the shoulder 11 of the primary rail is adapted to engage with the shoulder 24 of the secondary rail. Furthermore, relative rotatory -movement between the rails will be limited by reason of the fact that the shoulder 19 of the secondary rail 12 is adapted to engage with the upper edge 20 of the lip 6 of the primary rail 1.

The device herein disclosed, is of few parts, and may be fashioned at a relatively slight cost. The use of fish plates and securing bolts may be dispensed with entirely, if desired, the rails .being simply spiked down upon the ties. When the rails are thus spiked down, it will be impossible for the rails to separate at the oints.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a rail joint, a primary rail provided in its ball with a transverse recess, there being a bead overhanging the recess and a lug located in the recess, the ball having a lip disposed opposite to the recess, a portion of the web of the rail and a portion of the flange of the rail projecting beyond the lip to define a shoulder in the web; and a secondary rail provided in its ball with a transverse recess adapted to receive the bead of the primary rail, there being a finger below the recess of the secondary rail, adapted to fit within the lip of the primary rail and to engage with the lug, the ball of the secondary rail having a shoulder in its outer face, arranged to engage the lip of the primary rail; the web of the flange of the secondary rail being set back from the end of the ball of the secondary rail, and the web and the flange of the secondary rail being shouldered to engage with the shoulder of the primary rail.

2. In a rail joint, a primary rail provided within its ball with a transverse recess, there being a bead overhanging the recess and a lug located in the recess, the ball having a lip disposed opposite the recess; and a secondary rail provided in its ball with a transverse recess adapted to receive the bead of the primary rail, there being a finger below the recess of the secondary rail, adapted to fit within the lip of the primary rail and to engage with the lug, the ball of the secondary rail having a shoulder in its outer Copies of this patent may be obtained for face, arranged to receive the lip of the primary rail. I 3. In a rail joint, a primary rail provide within its ball with a transverse recess, there being a bead overhanging the recess and a lug located in the recess; and asecondary rail provided in its ball with a transverse recess adapted to receive the bead of the primary rail, there being a finger below the recess of the secondary rail adapted to interengage with the lug of the primary rail, upon relative transverse rotatory movement between the primary and secondary rails.

4. In a rail joint, a primary rail provided in its ball with a transverse recess, there being a lug projecting into the recess; and a secondary rail having a finger adapted to register in the recess, and to engage behind the lug, upon relative transverse rotatory movement between the rails. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. STROUSE.

Witnesses:

SELINA WILLSON, A. C. BURKE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

